Italy

• Abruzzo
• Alto Adige
• Apulia
• Basilicata
• Calabria
• Campagna
• Emilia-Romagna
• Friuli-Venezia Giulia
• Liguria
• Lombardia
  • Franciacorta
• Marche
• Molise
• Piedmont (Piemonte)
• Sicily
  • Mt. Etna
• Trentino-Alto Adige
• Tuscany
  • Brunello di Montalcino
  • Chianti
• Umbria
• Valle d'Aosta
• Veneto
  • Prosecco
  • Soave
• Sardinia

Very nice showing for this wine.  It has the reputation (fueled by its 15% abv?) of being a bruiser but at this stage in its life, showed plenty of refinement.  Ruby in color with some purple swirls, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, slight sandalwood, slight tea leaves and an interesting rosemary note.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, cherries, slight black cherries, hint of soy with a bit of char.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This may still improve but either way has another ten to twenty years left of good drinking.  It drinks nicely on its own b

I believe that Pietro Conterno is Giacomo Conterno's father.  First time trying a wine with this label.  It was double decanted a few hours prior to serving.  Pale ruby with plenty of browning in color, clear although a bit muted.  Despite all of the air it saw prior to pouring, this still improved and got more youthful (to a degree) in the glass.  The nose is a bit nutty, but also has some dried cherries, slight mushrooms, and forest floor.  There is a nice complexity.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is past prime but does offer up some interesting notes of earthiness, mushroom and dr

This bottle was decanted for sediment about an hour prior to serving.  This bottle was fresher than one opened about a year ago.  It was purchased around 2009, and it is not clear if this is an original bottling or not. Light ruby in color, some browning, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, tar and slight smoke.  Perhaps a slight but of forest floor.  Complex and deep with layers or some fruit but mostly tertiary notes.  Cherries, slight gravel, forest floor and slight char.  Good finish.  This is certainly past prime and every bottle is different, but this bottle was just wh

This is always a difficult wine especially for those who don't drink a lot of it.  Considered an "orange" wine, this predates the hipster Sommelier's infatuation of this style of wine.  At age 17, it has changed and aged by is still a fascinating wine.  Beware, at any given table, most people with be less than enthralled.  A blend of Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Riesling Italico (Welschriesling).  Amber in color, cloudy but still bright.  The nose has honey, caramel but also some citrus.  There is also a bit of oxidation.  Medium bodied.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, this is dry

This is made from Nero D'Avola in Sicily.  It spends 14 months in barrels and another year in bottles prior to ageing.  It is bigger and deeper in style than most Nero D'Avolas.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is interesting with a rye bread note along with cherries, black cherries and a slight dill.  Nice texture.  On the palate, cherries and sour cherries.  Firm tannins.  Some anise on the long finish.  It has a nice complexity.  This is drinking well now and should go another eight to ten years.  It will also work well with food.  Rosemary and garlic lamb chops w

This is Sangiovese from the excellent 2016 vintage.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, tea leaves and spice.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has nice cherries with slight sour cherries and a hint of forest floor.  Some anise on the long finish.  This wine is meant for food.  A plate of pasta with marinara sauce would be great.  Drink over the next five years.  

This is 100% Sagrantino from the heart of Italy (Umbria).  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, spice and slight anise.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Soft tannins.  On the palate, this has nice black cherry fruit with some underlying char.  Crisp.  Long finish.  This is better with some food to cut the acidity.  Pasta is classic.  Drink over the next fie to eight years.  

In attempting to discover the grapes in this, a brief search on the Internet revealed lots of suspects but no definitive answer.  Other grapes mentioned include Nerello Mascalese, Perricone and Merlot.  The varietals that popped up the most are a blend of Nero D'avola with a small percentage of Syrah.   Purple in color with a rim of persistent bubbles.  This wine is made in a "natural" style but other than the bubbles there were no noticeable faults.  The nose has lots of sour cherries, some anise, black pepper and slight black olives.  On the palate, this has light tannins, tart acidity an

This is Grenache, called Cannonau in Sardinia. The Riserva designation indicates two years ageing before release including at least six months in barrel.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has nice cherries with slight herbal notes.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, there is a slightly bitter note on the attack.  Lots of cherry fruit.  Medium tannins.  Slightly thin on the finish.  This drinks nicely on its own but works better with food.  A classic pizza wine.  

Lovely Barolo at a great place.  Purple in color with ruby hues, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, tar, slight roses and dust.  Medium bodied.  Medium to light tannins.  Layers of fruit and tertiary notes.  Cherries, and forest floor.  Nice balance.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but really needs food.  Pasta with truffles or mushroom in a cream sauce would be great.  It is at peak but there should be another 5 to ten more years of peak drinking.